Spain’s third largest city Valencia is sometimes overlooked as a holiday destination, but
offers a huge variety of attractions and without the crowds of Barcelona and Madrid. Here are five reasons why Valencia is the best city in Spain:
1) Architecture
Normally this would be fairly low down on my list of my interests - I always
find too many buildings fill me with a weird sense of outdoor claustrophobia -
but the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences is genuinely something special.
Marking the end of the Turía gardens down by the port, it’s a collection of mind-bending architecture including attractions as diverse as Europe’s largest aquarium, a science museum and a concert hall. In recent years it’s hosted the MTV Winter festival and the ATP World Tour tennis tournament. My personal favourite? The Hemisféric pictured above.
Marking the end of the Turía gardens down by the port, it’s a collection of mind-bending architecture including attractions as diverse as Europe’s largest aquarium, a science museum and a concert hall. In recent years it’s hosted the MTV Winter festival and the ATP World Tour tennis tournament. My personal favourite? The Hemisféric pictured above.
2) El Carmen
After
dark, the locals flock to Valencia’s labyrinthine ancient quarter El Carmen. It’s an atmospheric part of
the city centre where I discovered and then subsequently lost several bars
during my time living in Valencia. At
El Carmen’s its western edge is the atmospheric Plaza de la Virgen; the perfect place for kicking back with a glass of sangria or agua de Valencia (cava, orange juice, vodka, and gin) and watching the
world go by. The plaza really comes to life on Friday and Saturday nights and
is a popular hang out for locals.
Often there can be a kind of no mans land
between the bars shutting around 12pm and the clubs getting busy around 2/3am,
so grabbing a few cans and watching the world go by here is a good option. A
visit to the ceramic-tiled chupitería (shot bar) and its
multicoloured spirits is a great way to end, or indeed start the night in El
Carmen; just remember, you have to
find your way back out of the maze again!
3) Mestalla Stadium
Yes
it may be crumbling, dilapidated, and only still in use because Valencia CF
can’t afford to finish their new stadium, but the Mestalla is a great place to
watch football. The stands tower over the pitch, giving it an intimate feel
that belies its 55,000 capacity.
Tickets
along each touchline can be pricey but there are cheaper options up in the
gods. The view from the cheap, vertigo-inducing seats in Grada de la Mar offer
a lofty but uninterrupted view of the pitch and even part of the city’s
skyline. Avoid the lower parts of Gol Xicolet Alto and Gol Gran Alto behind the
goals – there are awkwardly placed gates that restrict your view. Few La Liga
games sell out; you can buy tickets at the stadium on
the day of certain games, although opening hours are erratic.
4) The Turia
An idea so good it really should be implemented in other cities around the world. When the Turia river flooded its banks in 1957, it was re-routed out of town. The dry river bed was then gradually transformed into one long meandering park which bisects the city like an eco-friendly tube line.
It’s possible to cross the city from the port to its north east edge via the Turia without a car or traffic light in sight. It’s generally pretty safe at night too – there is a steady stream of joggers and cyclists after dark. Anyone that’s ever tried commuting from east to west London should be lobbying for the British government to do the same with the Thames.
It’s possible to cross the city from the port to its north east edge via the Turia without a car or traffic light in sight. It’s generally pretty safe at night too – there is a steady stream of joggers and cyclists after dark. Anyone that’s ever tried commuting from east to west London should be lobbying for the British government to do the same with the Thames.
5) The Beach
La
Malvarossa is surprisingly clean for a city beach, and its sheer size means
that there’s always plenty of space even when it’s busy. The tide never
encroaches on the upper level of the beach so no matter what time of day it is
there’ll be space to spare and no uncomfortable overcrowding.
Cold drinks, ice creams, even massages are available where you lie. There are a few parasols available for hire, and if lounging around gets dull there’s always volleyball nets and five-a-side pitches on the golden sand.
Cold drinks, ice creams, even massages are available where you lie. There are a few parasols available for hire, and if lounging around gets dull there’s always volleyball nets and five-a-side pitches on the golden sand.
